Musicscan: Give our readers a short briefing about Memphis May Fire, please. what are you guys doing right at the moment?

Memphis May Fire:
The majority of us have been playing together for a while in different versions of previous bands, and about a year ago we solidified the lineup with another guitar player in Ryan, and then added Austin on bass after our old bass player decided to leave, but it was all for the best. A little over a year ago we had the EP written and finally saved up enough money to record, and from there it just kinda took off. Less than a year later we were doing full US tours back to back and signed with Trustkill Records. Right now we are home writing a new record before we go back out on tour

Musicscan: How did you first get involved in hardcore, metal, punk, emo/screamo, etc...? What is your background? Where you in any previous bands noteworthy to mention?

Memphis May Fire:
We had all been playing in different bands in the Dallas music scene, I think we would all agree none are worth mentioning really. So coming from that scene, we all had backgrounds in the hardcore/rock scene and naturally that's what we gravitate towards when playing music.

Musicscan: This whole post-screamo-emo-hardcore-metal-punk-thing has become so big during the last few years, but why do you think the marriage of different styles is so popular with young kids?

Memphis May Fire:
It has become a lot bigger than I ever would have thought, and I think it did because there are so many cool aspects in each type of music. Even if you aren't totally into one kind or the other, I have always thought that there is something you can take away or learn from them and apply them to your style. I think that will also be more evident on our full length.

Musicscan: What do you think about one hit wonders with big and short Success, and you be afraid of having one big hit and leaving a wrong impression of your band?

Memphis May Fire:
Yes, I suppose that is always a fear in the back of every band's mind, but it's is not something we are too worried about right now. Our EP has a pretty consistent raw rock sound, and that is who we are.

Musicscan: Is there something that bores you about todays music-scene/-bands? ...and what is your motivation to go your own way musically?

Memphis May Fire:
I don't think there's really anything that bores me, there are always new bands coming out with new twists and whatnot. I hope people see that is all we are trying to do. Put our own twist or stamp on this type of heavy rock.

Musicscan: The word on your guys band has been spread quiete quickly over the whole world. How does all of this attention make you feel?

Memphis May Fire:
Our EP was very well received and spread faster than we had ever thought. I mean, this time last year we never thought that we'd even be doing an interview right now! We feel the same though. We are still five normal dudes from Dallas who pretty much live at home when we are back form tour and get jobs to make ends meet.

Musicscan: Do you have some advice for upcoming bands: How does a band make themselve known to the world?

Memphis May Fire:
Get on iTunes. That singlehandedly helped us the most because anyone that wanted our music could get it for super cheap.

Musicscan: As you were forming Memphis May Fire what was influencing the direction you would take the band?

Memphis May Fire:
We actually didn't sit down and say,"ok, THIS is what we are going to write now." We just started jamming some songs that were in this direction, and before we knew it, we had an EP out.

Musicscan: What does Memphis May Fire offer the scene? Why should someone pick up your new cd-ep? This is your chance to do some "advertising"! What would you point out to be your trademarks?

Memphis May Fire:
We hope that we can offer a positive, up beat vibe to suck a serious, angry hardcore scene. I mean, granted, every band has it's own thing going on and they do it well. But we are pretty upbeat and positive guys and I like to think it comes across in our music. As far as trademarks go, hopefully people see that we put our own spin on the rock/hardcore/southern thing going on, and still fit a lot of singing into our music with dual vocals.

Musicscan: Your songs combine lots of different elements and styles to create some kind of unique sound. How do you go about writing your songs? What's your main focus creating new stuff onto and were you going for a more inclusive approach?

Memphis May Fire:
We basically start jamming a song that I recorded and hack it apart and change stuff here and there to make everybody happy. We still use that approach with the new material, but I think this time the songs are more examined to make sure they are top notch.

Musicscan: Where do you see the line drawn between progressiong on what you do well, and completely offering a new direction or sound?

Memphis May Fire:
Well, we try and not really think about progressing to a new sound or what we do well necessarily, we just play what we think is us, and we play what makes us happy.

Musicscan: Is it an intentionell drive to you to make the songs as varied musically as possible? Your songs are incredible interesting but rarely ever stay in one place for too long...

Memphis May Fire:
Yes, we try and vary it up you could say. That is just kind of our thing I guess!

Musicscan: You surely want to cause feelings and reactions within your listeners. What kind of?

Memphis May Fire:
We just want people to enjoy life and have positive, fun, loud music to rock out to! Sometimes, we want people to examine their relationships with those in their life, and other times it's purely for entertainment, and we write about a dream Chase had.

Musicscan: What bands do you consider to be truly inspiring to you? Do you think that your songwriting is affected by music your hear, or do you try not to be influenced by that?

Memphis May Fire:
Believe it or not, the bands that inspire us to grow as people and as musicians are older bands like Aerosmith, AC/DC, STP; bands that made an impact on us in a conscious or unconcious way.